Syrian police raid hide-out after attack: "Police raided a militant hide-out hours after a mysterious attack in the Syrian capital's diplomatic quarter that killed four people and may have targeted a building once occupied by the United Nations."

GI sisters pick family over Iraq: "Urged by their military commanders not to return to Iraq, two soldiers whose sister was killed in the fighting announced Tuesday that they have asked to be reassigned to duty closer to their Wisconsin home. (Chicago Tribune)"

A series of explosions rocks Fallujah: "A series of explosions and gunfire rocked Fallujah Wednesday in new fighting after a heavy battle the night before in which U.S. warplanes and artillery pounded the city in a show of force against Sunni insurgents holed up in a city slum."

A Series of Explosions Rocks Fallujah: "A series of explosions and gunfire rocked Fallujah Wednesday in new fighting after a heavy battle the night before in which U.S. warplanes and artillery pounded the city in a show of force against Sunni insurgents holed up in a city slum. (AP)"

Fallujah Erupts Again: "For the third day in a row, the sound of explosions and gunfire rumbled through Fallujah, a stronghold of Iraqi insurgents where militants have largely ignored a demand to disarm."

Syrian Police raid hide-out after attack: "Police raided a militant hide-out hours after a mysterious attack in the Syrian capital's diplomatic quarter that killed four people and may have targeted a building once occupied by the United Nations."

AP: Iraqis grumble about sovereignty: "A government that can't pass laws, a nation that doesn't control its own armed forces. Many of Iraq's U.S.-picked leaders wonder just how sovereign a state Washington will give them on June 30."

Eight insurgents have been killed and at least four United States Marines wounded during fierce fighting in the Iraqi city of Fallujah, where an uneasy ceasefire had been in place for a week, the US -led coalition said. A "significant" number of insurgents reportedly attacked Marines, prompting hours of fighting in the northern district of the city. " Initial reports were eight enemy killed and four Marines wounded ," Colonel John Coleman, chief of staff for the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, told reporters. Marines were fired upon from a mosque which was then targeted by US forces and the minaret destroyed, an embedded pool reporter with the marines told CNN. He said another six Marines were injured by shrapnel but the reports could not be immediately confirmed. " Unfortunately the opposition forces ? took it upon themselves to occupy a mosque ," Mr Coleman said. " Instead of serving as a centre of religious life, it was employed as a bastion in the attack ." He said Marines used small arms and a tank machine gun against the insurgents in the mosque during the battle in the northern district of Jolan.

U.S.-Picked Iraq Leaders Approve New Flag: "Iraq's U.S.-picked leaders approved a new flag for the country, making a dramatic change that dumps the Saddam Hussein-era colors and slogan "God is great" and introduces symbols of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, a spokesman said Monday. (AP)"

NATO Sees No Iraq Role Unless Many Conditions Met: "NATO will only consider a wider role inIraq if a string of conditions are met including a U.S.handover to a "credible" government in Baghdad,Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said Monday. (Reuters)"

Fighting in Fallujah (Updated): "Both Fox (TV) and Reuters are reporting that skirmishes have sprung up in Fallujah - on the television they are showing a mosque on fire and EuroNews is reporting that US helicopters are firing on Fallujah. More as it comes in. Fox has more here."

Iraq Resumes Petroleum Exports After Bombs: "Iraq has resumed petroleum exports two days after suicide bombers in boats attacked Iraqi oil facilities in the Gulf, an official said Monday. The attack cost the country some $40 million in lost revenues. (AP)"

U.S. to take over in 2 Iraqi provinces: "U.S. troops will permanently take command of the two Iraqi provinces that have been controlled by Spanish-led forces, a Polish spokesman for the multinational force said Monday."

Clashes Erupt In Fallujah: "A day after the U.S. said it would begin foot patrols in Fallujah rather than conduct an all-out assault, fighting broke out. U.S. troops also moved into Najaf and raided a Baghdad building, which exploded."

Concerns grow as transition looms in Iraq: "With the switch looming to Iraqi self-government, violence in the country is stirring debate over the need for more U.S. troops amid questions over whether American strategy is succeeding."

Fighting in Fallujah: "Both Fox (TV) and Reuters are reporting that skirmishes have sprung up in Fallujah - on the television they are showing a mosque on fire and EuroNews is reporting that US helicopters are firing on Fallujah. More as it comes in."

US Marines and Iraqi guerrillas have exchanged heavy fire in two districts of the besieged town of Fallujah, local residents say. Clashes in the Golan and Shuhada districts broke out around 11:20am local time and are continuing. Insurgents are firing rocket-propelled grenades, while the troops use heavy machineguns mounted on vehicles.

Blast Destroys Iraq Building, Injures GI: "An explosion leveled part of a building as U.S. troops were raiding it in northern Baghdad on Monday, wrecking four U.S. Humvees and wounding at least one soldier and several Iraqis. (AP)"

Israel identifies new Hamas leader: "Israeli military officials on Monday identified Mahmoud Zahar, a surgeon and prominent Hamas hard-liner, as the new leader of the Islamic militant group in the Gaza Strip."

Blast destroys Iraq building, injures GI: "An explosion leveled part of a building as U.S. troops were raiding it in northern Baghdad on Monday, wrecking four U.S. Humvees and wounding at least one soldier and several Iraqis."

Fighting breaks out in northern Fallujah: "Fighting broke out Monday in a northern district of Fallujah, with the sound of mortar fire and heavy machine guns, a day after U.S. officials announced a fragile cease-fire in the besieged city was being extended."

U.S. Troops Enter Najaf: "Hoping to pressure a radical cleric without upsetting Iraq's Shiite faithful, U.S. soldiers took over a base in the holy city used by outgoing Spanish troops. In Fallujah, new clashes erupted."

Two killed, four wounded in powerful Baghdad blast: "Two people were killed and four others wounded after a powerful blast at chemical facilities in northern Baghdad blew up four US armored Humvee jeeps, police and witnesses including an AFP photographer said. (AFP)"

Kerry Slams Ban on Photos of Coffins from Iraq: "Democratic presidentialcandidate John Kerry Sunday accused President Bush of trying tohide the consequences of the Iraq war by restrictingphotographs of flag-draped coffins returning home from theconflict. (Reuters)"

US troops who were at a chemical storehouse that exploded in Baghdad on Monday appear to have included members of the Iraq Survey Group (ISG) hunting for weapons of mass destruction. Residents have shown a Reuters reporter at the scene identity cards belonging to members of the ISG. The residents say they found the cards after US soldiers evacuated their casualties. The reason for the blast is not immediately clear but witnesses say it happened when about 12 US soldiers tried to break into the building. The structure was destroyed in the explosion and at least one unidentified body and four wounded Iraqis have been evacuated.

A powerful explosion in Baghdad's northern neighbourhood of Waziriyah has blown up two US Humvees and caused a nearby house to collapse. Reporters at the scene say two Humvees can be seen burning as US forces close off the area. An Abrams tank and a Bradley armoured vehicle are also at the scene as fire trucks rush to the area, where several chemical plants are located. Residents say they saw rocket propelled grenades being fired into the Humvees as they passed by.

A powerful bomb has exploded in Baghdad's northern neighbourhood of Waziriya, destroying four US military vehicles. No occupation forces spokesman was prepared to comment on casualties after the Monday morning attack, but as many as 12 marines may be dead. An Iraqi policeman, who refused to give his name, said he saw "three US soldiers wounded or killed in each vehicle". Heavy black smoke could be seen rising above a chemical storehouse that appears to have been booby-trapped. One witness, Imad Hashim, said the bomb went off " when they [US marines] tried to force their way in, there was a huge ball of fire and I was thrown to the ground ". Hashim said he was about 100 metres away from the blast. Four Humvees were seen burning as US forces closed off the area, residents said they also saw rocket propelled grenades being fired into the Humvees as they passed by.

New deal on ceasefire, weapons in Fallujah: mediator: "A new agreement between officials in Fallujah and the US-led coalition was reached to extend the ceasefire "indefinitely" in the beseiged Sunni flashpoint and enforce a ban on carrying arms, a mediator involved in the talks told AFP. (AFP)"

Suicide attacks on Basra oil supply: "Military chiefs in Iraq are weighing up an alarming new rebel tactic after suicide bombers struck at vital oil installations close to the British-held city of Basra."

"We're coming with a mighty force to end the reign of your
oppressors," Bush said, addressing Iraqis who might be
listening from afar. "We are coming to bring you food and
medicine and a better life. And we are coming and we will
not stop, we will not relent until your country is free."
We are very proud of you,Keep your helmet on!

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